Non-separation of Church and State in Germany

Last night on Market Place, NPR's radio show about business, they did a story about the "church tax" in Germany, and how many people are "leaving" their churches to avoid a 4% federal income tax that is earmarked for various German churches for support of their buildings and staff. Furthermore, with German efficiency, if you declare you are not affiliated and get yourself out of the tax, the (now government supported) pastors cannot do a funeral for you, or other "services" that church "workers" perform. This really riles up my American sensibilities on many issues.

They reported that the government passed this tax on the theory that churches were doing socially helpful things and thus merited support. This opens a host of political issues, such as just which churches are providing government-approved services. And of course, if they want the money, they need to get themselves approved. Then their members are taxed and the proceeds handed over to the appropriate church - only now, the staff is being controlled by the government; the government sets the rules for whom the church staff can render services, if they want the money. Which, of course, they do: they feel it is rightfully theirs, even though it is extorted by the force of law. Did anyone remember how God loves a cheerful giver?

This is a really great example of why we have the separation of church and state in the US. The government starts out saying they should be supported, but by giving that idea the force of law, they totally pervert it. God could send ten thousand angels to force us to pay money to the churches (or solve a host of other social problems), but He doesn't seem to want to do it. Gee, ya think maybe He has a different priority?